2013 09 09

The

S TUDENT P RINTZ www.studentprintz.com

SERVING SOUTHERN MISS SINCE 1927

September 9, 2013

Volume 98 Issue 5

ON CAMPUS

Trailblazers honored at ceremony Carly Tynes Executive Editor The first African-American students to attend The University of Southern Mississippi were honored at Friday’s naming ceremony of ArmstrongBranch Plaza.

The recently completed plaza was named to honor Southern Miss alumnae Gwendolyn Elaine Armstrong and Raylawni Young Branch, and was dedicated on the 48th anniversary of the successful end of segregation at USM. Both women attended their first day of classes at the university on Sept. 6, 1965.

“Somebody had to go first,” Raylawni Branch said. “Somebody had to go along and deal with whatever might happen so others could come along and not give it a thought.”

The plaza, which is located between the Liberal Arts Building and Joseph A. Greene Hall, was funded by a Mississippi Department of Transportation

grant of $675,000. The plaza is complete with brick paving, decorative lighting, benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and emergency call stations.

Both of the MDOT grants contributed 80 percent of the project’s costs, while the university contributed the remaining 20 percent.

During the spring 2013 semester, senators in the Student Government Association passed a resolution to name a portion of the pedestrian plaza after Armstrong and Branch.

Interim President Aubrey K. Lucas approved the SGA resolution on his next to last day in office in 2013.

After only a few days in the president’s office, Bennett affirmed the resolution. He immediately began gathering the funds necessary for the naming project, as well as the means to plan the naming event.

Mary Alice Truitt/Printz “September 6, 1965, [these] Raylawni G. A. Branch and Gwendolyn Armstrong Chamberlain uncover the bronze plaque displaying

See CEREMONY, 5

the dedication of the Armstrong-Branch Plaza. The plaza was dedicated in honor of the first two African-American students to attend The University of Southern Mississippi.

ON CAMPUS

Bennett leads student convocation series Wilton Jackson Printz Reporter

University President Rodney Bennett will be conducting a series of fall convocations to prepare new and current students for the school year.

The convocations focus on giving students the essential tools to become successful, future graduates of Southern Miss.

President Bennett will speak at four convocations with each message containing important elements that students should know as freshmen, sopho-

NPHC WEEK

Melanie Boyd/Printz

Sophomores Karen Bach and Molly Millican enjoy Dr. Bennett’s speech during the sophomore convocation Friday, Aug. 21, 2013 in front of Bennett Auditorium.

SYRIA

FOOTBALL

mores, juniors and seniors.

“Essentially, the student convocations are geared and broken down towards meeting each class of students where they are,” Bennett said. “The needs of a freshman student are different from the needs of a graduating senior student.”

The freshman student convocation, which was held during Golden Eagle Welcome Week at Reed Green Coliseum, was tailored to welcome students to the university and to encourage them to be best students they can be.

Held in front of the Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building, the sophomore student

convocation helped students become aware of important aspects that will allow them to be successful students this year.

“Getting involved in student organizations, going to class, networking with faculty and reaching out to campus resources are features for sophomore students to be successful,” Bennett said.

Michaela Harper, a sophomore child development major, said she appreciated Bennett’s words of wisdom during the sophomore convocation.

WEATHER

INDEX

Monday

94/71 Tuesday

91/69 Wednesday

PAGE 4

PAGE 6

PAGE 8

91/67

See CONVOCATION, 5

Calendar ....................... 2 News ............................. 3 Feature.......................... 4 Opinion.......................... 6 Sports............................ 7

Calendar

Page 2, Student Printz

The

Student Printz

Serving Southern Miss since 1927

Executive Editor Carly Tynes carly.tynes@eagles.usm.edu 601.266.4266 Managing Editor Kathryn Miller kathryn.miller@eagles.usm.edu Chief Copy Editor Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Copy Editor Courtney McNichols courtney.mcnichols@eagles.usm. edu News Editor Monicia Warner monicia.warner@eagles.usm.edu Sports Editor Joshua Campbell joshua.m.campbell@eagles.usm. edu Design Editor Taylor Fesenmeier taylor.fesenmeier@eagles.usm. edu Art Director Christopher Little christopher.little@eagles.usm.edu Webmaster Chris Greene chris.greene@eagles.usm.edu Designers Joshua Byrd Gerri Ducksworth News Content Adviser Chuck Cook 601.266.4288 chuck.cook@usm.edu Ad Graphic Designer Katherine Frye katherine.frye@eagles.usm.edu Advertising Manager Lesley Sanders-Wood 601.266.5188 lesley.sanders@usm.edu Advertising e-mail printzad@usm.edu

Find us online at: www.studentprintz.com

The Student Printz is published every Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. Signature Offset of Hattiesburg provides printing services.

Opinions expressed in The Student Printz are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Student Printz, its publications manager, USM, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning or the USM Board of Student Publications.

9

Monday, September 9, 2013

Mark Your Planner 10 11 12 13

10 a.m.

Men’s Rugby Tabling TCC Atirum 11:15 a.m.

Young American’s for Liberty Recruitment Tabling Shoemaker Square 11:30 a.m.

Women’s Lacrosse Team Recruitment TCC Atrium 11:30 a.m.

Kinesiotherapy Club: We Keep You Moving Tabling Union Lobby 11:30 a.m.

Lifeline Campus Ministries: Get Connected Table Shoemaker Square & TCC Atrium 5 p.m.

CPC Recruitment Bid Day Payne Center 6:30 p.m.

Alpha Kappa Psi: Meet the Brothers Union Room C

11 a.m.

NPHC School Supply Drive Union Lobby

9 a.m.

Chi Alpha Connections Table Shoemaker Square

11 a.m.

Fashion Merchandising Organization: Bake Sale Joseph Greene Hall

11 a.m.

SMAC Fall Event Tabling TCC Atrium

10 a.m.

Men’s Rugby Tabling TCC Atirum

12 p.m.

SMELA Brown Bag Policy Luncheon TCC

11 a.m.

Men of Excellence: What to Wear, What NOT to Wear Union Lobby

1 p.m.

SGA Green Fund Outreach Information Table TCC Atrium

1 p.m.

SGA Green Fund Outreach Information Table TCC Atrium 6:30 p.m.

NPHC Social Media Program TCC 218 A/B 6:30 p.m.

Episcopal Church at USM Worship and Dinner Danforth Chapel and Student Activities HUB 6:30 p.m.

Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Outreach Student Activities Hub 1st Floor

11 a.m.

Pre-Sales for The Southerner Yearbook TCC Atrium 12 p.m.

Alpha Phi Alpha We Shall Not Forget: 9/11 Remembrance Reception TCC 218 A/B 1 p.m.

SGA Green Fund Outreach Information Table TCC Atrium

Fall 2013 Commencement ceremonies will be Friday, Dec. 13, at Bernard Reed Green Coliseum (map<http://m.usm.edu/ campus_map.php?id=27785>). The college listings for fall 2013 Commencement ceremonies in Hattiesburg are below: 10 a.m. Commencement Arts and Letters Health Science and Technology 2:30 p.m. Commencement Business Education and Psychology Nursing University Libraries (faculty will participate) Following both ceremonies, the Southern Miss Alumni Association would like to invite graduates and their guests to a “Graduate Goodbye” reception at the Payne Center (map<http://m.usm. edu/campus_map.php?id=27709>) basketball courts, where graduates and families can meet, take photos and visit with college administrators, faculty and staff.

More information about commencement is located online <http://www.usm.edu/commencement>.

Happy Friday!

5 p.m.

SMAC Carnival Night Centennial Green 6 p.m.

High DEF Auditions TCC 218 A 6:30 p.m.

Alpha Kappa Psi: Tau Omega & You Union Room B 6:30 p.m.

Alpha Kappa Psi: Tau Omega & You Union Room B 7 p.m.

NPHC Hop Contest Bennett Auditorium

e Alert l g a E h t i W e ctiv Going Pro-A With the new and improved Eagle Alert system, students, faculty and staff are assured to get alerted for oncampus and off-campus threatening issues.

The Eagle Alert system is a means for University Police Department to reach out to the campus community through text messaging, voicemail and email.

The improved system has developed the opt-in and opt-out alerts for everyone who chooses to have or not to have them. Every student, faculty, and staff will be automatically be opted-in to Eagle Alert, unless they choose to opt-out. If someone chooses to opt-out then they must login into the Eagle Alert system and opt-out.

UPD Chief Bob Hopkins said this is the best pro-active way to make the campus aware of campus issues that could save someone’s life. Students’ USM email and phone number will only be reserved for campus crimes. This allows that individual time to prepare for campus issues.

All faculty, staff, and students should have received a test e-mail, voicemail and text message alerting everyone of the new changes and what to do if you want to enhance your current capabilities and instructions if decided to opt-out.

The system is available at both Hattiesburg campus and the Gulf Coast campus.

By: Meghan Burk

News

Monday, September 9, 2013

Student Printz, Page 3

Judicial Board: Protecting students’ rights

SGA

Destiny Reynolds Printz Reporter During the first year at college, students usually need to familiarize themselves with the campus. From the building layouts to professors’ office hours to the various campus resources available, it can be a lot of information to absorb in a short amount of time. The most commonly overlooked detail is the one that is most important to student life on campus: students’ rights.

Yes, college students do have rights. In fact, The University of Southern Mississippi has an organization dedicated to the preservation of these rights: the Student Government Association Judicial Board.

The SGA is comprised of the

CEREMONY, from 1

two brave women quietly and without incident, ended segregation at The University of Southern Mississippi,” Bennett said at the ceremony.

“It was done very peacefully,” Lucas recalled of the day the women began classes. “We didn’t make a big deal of it. We didn’t call in photographers for them to pose … To their credit, they didn’t feel the need to make news. They were here to get an education.”

One student felt the admittance of Armstrong and Branch paved the way for all nationalities and minorities to attend Southern

Cabinet, the Senate and the Judicial Branch.

The Judicial Branch is comprised of a board of nine justices overseen by a chairman, a vice president and a secretary, similar to the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The Judicial Branch specifically holds sole jurisdiction on the violations and interpretations [of ] the SGA constitution and Student Code of Conduct,” said Christopher Brewer, attorney general and chairman of the board.

These infringements can range anywhere from parking violations to weapon and drug violations. All appeals related to these infringements are heard by the Judicial Board during their meetings on Mondays at 3:30 p.m. in Union

“

cated to clearing up any gray areas of the Constitution or student rights and privileges.

As a resource to the students of Southern Miss, actions of the board are not very well-known.

Brewer seeks to change this. “I want to give students the opportunity to do real work [with SGA],” he said.

“You can’t teach experience; you have to go through it yourself.”

In addition to awareness, members of the SGA Judicial Board, seek to expand the role of the Judicial Board.

“I want to see … separate branches within the Judicial

I want to give students the opportunity to do real work with SGA. You can’t teach experience; you have to go through it yourself.

Miss as easily as they can today.

“It’s a landmark of how women of color can make a stand in their hometown whenever they had the opportunity to go elsewhere,” said LaToursha Ezell, a senior public health and psychology major.

“It means that you just keep going and you look at other options to succeed, even though obstacles get in your way,” she said. “USM has always been a family, and that’s the reason I’m here.”

For more information about MDOT, visit www.GoMDOT. com.

CONVOCATION, from 1 “I walked away with the fire to lead by example and leaving a legacy for those to follow,“ Harper said. “Get done today what is necessary and you will be prepared for tomorrow.”

With two student convocations left, many junior and senior students are eager to hear President Bennett’s messages.

The junior convocation will discuss the importance of internship opportunities, interviews and creating stronger relationships with faculty on campus.

The senior convocation will focus on what it takes to graduate from Southern Miss and carry a sense of service into the real world.

“Rounding up the last turn, coming down the home stretch

Room D at the Thad Cochran Center.

Five justices are appointed on odd-numbered years, four on

and finishing strong are the major goals for the junior and senior convocations, “ said President Bennett.

The student convocations encourage students to be successful and to work hard.

“Without students, Southern Miss is nothing,” said Ann Marie Chilcutt, senior communications major and SGA president.

“We have to apply our motto to our everyday life.”

The junior student convocation is scheduled for Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Touchdown Club of M.M. Roberts Stadium. The senior student convocation is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center Ballrooms.

”

Christopher Brewer even-numbered years and each justice serves a two-year term.

The justices are selected from a pool of current SGA members.

The Judicial Branch is dedi-

Branch,” Brewer said. “Every freshman class is the [next] biggest class. I want to go along with the expansion of the university itself within the Judicial Branch,” he said.

Any USM student is eligible to join SGA so long as they have been enrolled for one semester prior to applying and have a 2.5 grade point average. Applications are available during the spring semester.

For freshmen who want to get involved, applications for Freshmen Associates are available online.

For more information, contact Christopher Brewer at ch r istophe r. bre we r @ e ag l e s . usm.edu or visit www.southernmisssga.org.

Feature

Page 4, Student Printz

Greek Life

Monday, September 9, 2013

NPHC Week 2013 kicks off Nikki Smith Printz Reporter As a way to expose students of The University of Southern Mississippi to the history of the “Divine Nine” organizations and provide information on how to join, the National Pan-Hellenic Council kicked off their Greek Week on Sunday. NPHC Week events are planned through Fri., Sept. 13 and are open to students, faculty and staff.

“This year, we are all about change,” said NPHC President Hakeem Oduniyi. “We wanted to put on programs that have never been done before and would attract the student body.”

“The purpose of NPHC week is not so much for the Greeks to have fun, but for the students to be able to enjoy their time at Southern Miss NPHC-style.”

Keeping tradition alive, the first of the week’s events was a worship service at West Point Baptist Church on Sunday. On Monday, all Southern Miss students are invited to attend the Alumni/Undergraduate Luau at Vernon Dahmer Park from 5-8 p.m. Attendees are asked to wear Hawaiian clothing.

An NPHC table will be set up in the Union on Tuesday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., to collect items for the Baby Supply Drive.

Some items that can be donated are diapers, wipes, baby food, clothing (infant-18 months), medicine and baby toys. The council will also host a respon-

Ramon Glenn/Printz

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. fraternity members participate in the annual Hop Contest on stage in Bennett Auditorium during last year’s NPHC week.

sible social media program called “Catfish” on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center RM 218 A/B. Two special guests from the MTV show “Catfish” are expected to attend.

On Wednesday at noon in the Trent Lott National Center, the NPHC and the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) will host a 9/11 Remembrance program. Charities and community outreach organizations honoring 9/11 victims will be recognized and retired Col. Sheila Varnado will be the keynote speaker. Refresh-

ments will be provided from 11:30 a.m.-noon. After, there will be a dedication to the a 111-pound piece of twisted steel from the World Trade Center at 1 p.m. The steel will be housed on the second floor of the Trent Lott National Center.

Students interested in joining one of the sororities or fraternities can attend the NPHC Informational on Wednesday in Joseph Green Hall. Admission is $10. Check-in will begin at 6 p.m.

NPHC sororities and fraternities will show off their dance moves at the NPHC Hop Con-

test on Thursday in Bennett Auditorium. The week will end with a community service event at the Osceola McCarty Center.

Those who want to help out can meet at Hillcrest gravel parking lot at 12:30 p.m.

“The NPHC Executive Board has worked countless hours in making sure this week is a success,” Oduniyi said. “Making sure the necessary speakers, materials and other requirements are met has been the duty of the executive board since last spring to prepare for this week.”

“The week will include sever-

al events that display the traditions of the NPHC while equally showcasing each fraternity and sorority,” said Trent Johnson, NPHC executive board public relations chair. “The executive board hopes to accomplish more Greek unity amongst the eight chapters here on campus that help make up the USM NPHC, as well as bring more awareness to each individual chapter to help support their future programs [and] community service events.”

on campus

Dance fest grows in popularity Chase Ladner Printz Reporter On Saturday dance schools from the Gulf Coastal fregion traveled to The University of Southern Mississippi for the Mississippi Dance Concert Festival.

The three-day festival was for dance schools and students in the region whom were interested in being exposed to different forms of dance early on in the school year.

This is the second year the dance festival has been held at Southern Miss by dance instructors Elizabeth Lentz and Julie White.

“It’s completely focused on dance and creative experiences for the

kids in the schools” Julie White, director of dance education said.

This festival is touted as the only of its kind in the state.

While many other festivals have competitions and lectures, none of them offer dance lessons for students.

“There was a real need to offer something that’s not competitive dance,” White said.

Since 2012, the festival has grown from 50 to 60 students, with over 40 on the waiting list.

“The list was only open for a week ... It was first come first serve,” White said, There were 30 students per instructor, and two classes are divided into intermediate and advance. There is also a third class

for dance instructors who can also come to review, learn and renew their teaching license by attending workshops and panels. Students and instructors take three to four hour long courses each day for two days.

Students receive instruction from several of the professors and graduates of the USM dance program, as well as performers from studios around the South.

“We are really picky [with] who teaches the kids,” White said.

Some of the participants include students from the Mississippi School for the Arts, Power Academic & Performing Arts Complex and local dance schools from Laurel, Vicksburg, Mobile and parts of Louisiana.

“That’s why we started this, to have something local” said Elizabeth Lentz, assistant professor in the Southern Miss dance department.

“It’s really been helpful,” said Lisa Brown, instructor at Power APAC. “We never have anything that applies to us [dancers].”

“We are hoping to keep it in the start of the school year to kick off the year,” Lentz said. The event was held in the spring, which accounts for the smaller numbers during the first event.

Though both White and Lentz mentioned that they believe placing the event in fall will be most beneficial to all involved.

“It has inspired the children and the teachers,” said Brown.

Despite a waiting list twothirds as long as the list of attendees, the founders to not intend of trying to accommodate all who want to attend at this point. “The goal is to keep increasing the quality,” White said.

The dance festival will happen annually. The festival might change its location to other parts in the state to help service students and teachers who are not in the Hattiesburg area.

“We want to make it a truly Mississippi event,” White said.

For more information about the Mississippi Dance Concert Festival, contact Julie White at Julie.H.White@usm.edu.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Feature

Student Printz, Page 5

Faces of USM We ask, you answer.

Hanna Miller Marine Biology Junior Hometown: Murray, Kentucky Interview and Photo by

April Garon

How long have you been long boarding?

“

About a year. It’s so fast and a pretty cool way to get around. Of course, it doesn’t use any gas. I try to be as environmentally conscious as I can.

Why did you decide to go to school here at Southern Miss?

“

”

Well, my major is marine biology, and there’s not exactly a lot of ocean in Kentucky. And there is lab on the coast.

LIFE

”

USM couple “Too Young to Marry?”

Chase Ladner Printz Reporter Two students at The University of Southern Mississippi will be featured on the reality show “Too Young to Marry?” when it premiers Sept.11 on the Oxygen channel.

Bradley and Shanice Floore will be the first couple featured in the four-part mini series that focuses on the experiences of younger than average people getting married Bradley and Shanice got engaged on April 9 2012, and were married the following year on May 17.

“The purpose of [the show] is to highlight some of the struggles that young and engaged couples go through versus older couples,” said Bradley, a sophomore international business major.

While their original plan was to wait until after graduation to marry, the couple decided to cut their engagement short. “Without the show we were going to get married no matter what,” Bradley said. “With Oxygen’s support we were able to make our dreams happen sooner.”

“If you have something good going and it makes you happy, and if you just keep putting it off

and putting it off, it’s just waiting for an outer source to come in and mess it up,” said Shanice.

In the case of marriage, more people are choosing to wait. The United States Census Bureau has put the median age of first marriages at 28 for men and 26 for women in 2011.

“When were were dating and having to find time to be together, that was like another job for me,” Shanice said. “Now that we are together, it’s easier…. I don’t have to worry about if I’m going to see Bradley or not, because at the end of the night I’ll know he’ll be there.”

In 2008, 18 percent of college undergraduates were married, according to the National Center of Educational Statistics.

Currently there are 74 families living on the USM campus, both undergraduate and graduate.

“Out of all the student populations, they have the highest GPA,” said Vicki Copeland, the assistant director for family and special interest housing.

Copeland said that number is helped by the amount of graduate students within that population, but also believes that those

non-traditional students are often more serious.

“We know that we’re busy people… We know we won’t be together every minute of every day,” Bradley said. “We take care of our business and we get to enjoy that every night we get to be together, fall asleep together and wake up together.”

“One of the things we had to deal with was people saying it’s right to get married when you’re older,” Bradley. “They’d say you can’t get married when you’re younger, it’s not going to last.”

From 1990 to 2010 the divorce rate for people between the ages of 15 and 24 has dropped from 4.7 percent to 3.2 percent, according to the National Center for Marriage and Family Research. It has also lowered in 25 to 35 year olds from 3.3 percent to 3 percent.

“It’s not for everybody,” Shanice said. “You have to be at a certain maturity level to be married, honestly.”

“When we think of ourselves it always includes the other person,” Bradley said. It’s not just about ourselves anymore, it’s what’s best for us.”

Courtesy Photo

Opinion

Page 6, Student Printz

National

Monday, September 9, 2013

Syria raises concerns of questionable politics Judge Lucas Printz Reporter I remember sitting in class as a child and watching breaking news interruptions portraying a terrifying image of two planes crashing into the Twin Towers, fueling anger and sadness in my mind.

Twelve years later, I see my niece and nephew watching innocent citizens in Syria, many of them children, dying from exposure to chemical weapons. The same emotions are visible in their eyes.

Like George W. Bush in 2003, President Barack Obama stands behind a podium addressing the world about an act of terror. Our Commander in Chief, after saying the use of chemical weapons would result in the crossing of a “red line,” attempts to sell the idea of military intervention on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after connecting his regime with the speculated chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21 that killed 1,429 people.

Syria continues to engage in a civil war between the Assad regime and a coalition of antigovernment rebels that started in March 2011 and has claimed more than 100,000 lives. Over two million Syrians have fled and even more are displaced within the country.

Nine years after Operation Iraqi Freedom, the new antagonist Assad replaces Saddam Hussein. Once again, the United States finds itself on the brink of military conflict with of a Middle Eastern government in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

However, there are a few differences in this generation’s conflict.

The U.S. is not directly under attack from the chemical weapons thus making it difficult for the president to win popular support for a similar war that he campaigned against in 2008. Instead of having the world’s support like the post9/11 Iraq invasion, the Obama administration’s main source of assistance would come from the United Kingdom and France.

Britain is not likely to intervene after Prime Minister David Cameron lost a crucial vote to support the U.S.’s potential military strike. The endorsement failed after British Parliament shot down the idea Aug. 29.

France’s involvement is questionable at best. The country continues to feel the effects of the European austerity crisis while dealing with an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent -- a 15-year high.

The country of Syria has a strong alliance with Iran and Russia. Both countries continue to threaten the U.S. following the Obama administration’s desire to attack the Assad regime.

Photo from Local Committee of Arbeen

This citizen journalism image provided by the Local Committee of Arbeen shows dead bodies of Syrian citizens in Arbeen town, Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. Syrian regime forces fired intense artillery and rocket barrages Wednesday on the eastern suburbs of the capital Damascus, in what two pro-opposition groups claimed was a “poisonous gas” attack that killed dozens of people.

Russia makes money supplying arms to the Syrian civil war and uses a warm-water port in Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to express anger with the U.S. for a lack of evidence against Assad and has deployed multiple warships into the Mediterranean Sea. Iran backs Syria with oil trade and religious agreements. Iran, being the world’s most populous Shiite nation, shares a mutual contempt with the Sunni-filled rebels that continue to fight Assad. Iran even threatens to attack its longtime regional rival Israel if the U.S. were to intervene in Syria.

China sits in a difficult position.

The country uses a lot of oil from Syria’s ally Iran, but would rather not engage in a conflict with its biggest trading partner: the U.S. Although China admits it does not approve of chemical weapons, the government continues to use its veto power with Russia in United Nations Security Councils.

President Obama left the decision to use military force up to a vote in Congress, which will take place as early as Sept. 9 when Congress returns from recess. The vote appears to be an even split with big names from both parties being vocal on each side of the issue.

If the Obama administration receives support for the attack, it could use the five destroyers already deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its strike group in the Red Sea. Each destroyer carries up to 90 Tomahawk missiles that

are capable of long-range assaults on important Syrian structures.

The threat of escalation into a global conflict has left many pondering the idea why the U.S. would want to intervene. After all, a military campaign is expensive, and the $16.4 trillion national debt has left many people wondering how the U.S. could afford this mission.

“Look at our economy after 2008,” said Ricky Chambliss, an economics major at The University of Southern Mississippi.

“There’s only so much we can do when our debt is climbing at such a fast rate.

“We’re not in a position to repeat the previous administration’s mistake,” he added.

An even more disturbing thought would be evidence that someone other than the Assad regime used the chemical weapons. Although the Obama administration claims assurance that Assad is responsible, no evidence surfaced in the media, and the Russian and Chinese governments aren’t buying.

Various online news platforms promote the idea of the rebels using the chemical weapons as a way of gaining U.S. and U.K. assistance against the enemy. The weapons are said to have been provided by Saudi Arabia, a staunch rival of Iran in the Middle East’s oil market.

To further support this claim, a CBS News report stated that the rebels’ victories became “increasingly rare” after interviewing Syr-

ians. Why would Assad want to focus the world’s eyes on his regime if the war was in his favor?

Who exactly are these anti-government rebels? Some are former soldiers that joined the Free Syrian Army and want to end Assad’s relentless dictatorship. Others are jihadists that have been linked to al-Qeada. The U.S. supports the rebels in the form of arms and supplies, but video evidence claims these militants eat the organs of their slain enemies and even behead civilians.

However, supporters of military intervention want the U.S. to aid the Syrian refugees that can’t defend themselves. These supporters even argue that letting Assad slide after using chemical weapons would send a message of weakness to other governments like North Korea and Iran that continue to pursue nuclear weapons.

With scores of innocent people dying thousands of miles away, why should students at Southern Miss care? There are many consequences to attacking Syria or simply remaining idle on the world stage.

By even mentioning war, the price of crude oil per barrel continues to rise and will guarantee higher gas prices as the Middle East’s oil transportation would be disrupted.

Our brothers and sisters in the U.S. Armed Forces may likely be deployed into a battlefield with the possibility of chemical weapons used.

“I don’t want to do it, but it’s my duty, and I’m proud to do it,” said Spc. Tyler Strong, a three-

year soldier of the Army National Guard said when asked if he would deploy to Syria like he did in Afghanistan.

“Nobody wants to fight. God forbid, if we have to we will. Nobody wants peace as bad as soldiers,” he said.

Our generation has the potential to use public discussion in a way we couldn’t in 2003. With hashtags and Facebook statuses becoming more powerful than ever, our voices become louder and information is readily available.

“I think it’s something that needs to be watched closely,” Chambliss added. “I think we shouldn’t act with as much haste as George W. Bush did in Iraq.

We should wait on U.N. compliance. If Obama goes through with it, it’s going against everything he preached for in 2008.”

The images of smoke coming from the World Trade Center is substituted with images of children foaming at the mouth from the use of chemical weapons.

Whether you make a decision based on humanitarian values or one that America should not be the “World Police,” you should make your voice heard in the debate over this generation’s 9/11.

Information for this article was provided by CNN.com and NBCNews.com.

This was an article of opinion by Judge Lucas, a writer for The Student Printz. Email questions or comments to judge.lucas@eagles.usm.edu.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Sports

Student Printz, Page 7

Football

Fake injuries in football spark conversation Alan Rawls Printz Reporter The discussion about fake injuries was reignited Aug. 31 when Leonard Floyd, a linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs, looked to the sideline and received the order to fake an injury.

Without delay he falls over and holds his leg. His teammate indicates to the official that the Dawgs’ linebacker is hurt. Uh oh, Floyd is injured, so bring out the trainers and stop the game.

“Lay down, play dead… Good Dawg,” commented one YouTube user. Others called the fake injury a form of cheating, unsportsmanlike and downright lame.

Yes, it is a deceitful and lousy thing to do. Coaches telling a player to fake an injury? That ruins the integrity of your team and of the game. What people don’t realize is the practice of injury-faking has been around for a long time, about as long as fastpaced, up-tempo offenses.

I remember playing football in high school and the defensive coaches would force our starting defensive line to rehearse faking injuries. They would spend about ten minutes practicing the art of trying to make faked injury believable.

Dale Zanine/US Presswire

South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw (14) throws a pass under pressure from Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. The Georgia Bulldogs were recently called out for a team member faking an injury.

We used the fake injury strategy a lot that season. Defensive ends would receive their orders from the sideline, keel over and hold their leg. The crowd would

clap and two plays later, the player was back in the game.

I always thought it was a despicable thing to do. If your defense is getting beat, either because you can-

not call a play quickly or you did not condition your team well enough, then that’s too bad. Deal with it.

Sonny Dykes, first-year head coach at the University of Cali-

fornia, had a good idea: To combat the problem of fake injuries, instill a new rule that requires injured players to stay on the sidelines for five or six plays.

“No. 1, that helps with player safety,” Dykes said about his proposal.

“No. 2, that takes [feigning injuries] out of the game, which I think has become a problem and is gonna do nothing but increase.”

“We have all the time where a guy lays on the field, all the trainers come out, he lays there three or four minutes, gets up and jogs off the field, and he’s back in the next play.

“You tell me, is that a serious injury? … If you’re required to sit out five plays, I think the questions get answered pretty quickly,” he said.

I agree with Dykes. Although his idea will probably never be taken seriously, it would force coaches to abandon the fake injuries and actually play the game with some decency. Fans could stop being skeptical of injured players.

Until someone instills a new rule though, don’t be surprised if you ever see an injured player return one or two plays later. I hope the NCAA rules committee has the sense to do something about faking injuries, because the problem will only get worse.

Football

The good, the bad and the ugly of college football: the bad Joshua Campbell Sports Editor

The conference realignment in college football is damaging the game more than anyone realizes.

Over the past few years, major college football teams and mid-majors have switched conferences with one thing in mind: money. It has always been about the money.

For instance, Nebraska left the Big 12 Conference for the Big 10 which helped spark the creation of the Big 10 Network leading to a big payday for all the schools involved. The network nets the conference around $250 million per year.

Texas A&M and Missouri made a similar move to the SEC which helped the SEC strike a 20-year contract with ESPN to make the SEC Network a 24/7 channel. The contract could net the conference upwards to $400 million annually. Like Cuba Gooding, Jr. said in the movie “Jerry Maguire,” “Show me the money!”

What these executives did not

take into consideration was the rivalries ruined in the process.

There will no longer be yearly meetings of Oklahoma vs. Nebraska, Texas A&M vs. Texas, Notre Dame vs. Michigan, Kansas vs. Missouri; the latter three have all been around since the 19th Century.

Rivalries help make college football as popular as it is.

There is just something different about a rivalry game that raises the stakes. Fans will drive across the country, call out of work, cancel a date with their spouse, etc. just to watch their favorite team take on their biggest rival.

What makes the games so great is that the level of play from both teams rises to a drastically different level. The records and rankings don’t matter; throw those out the window. Whenever there is a rivalry game such as Ohio State vs. Michigan or LSU vs. Alabama, it’s an all-out war.

Think rivalries really don’t matter all that much? Saturday’s Notre Dame vs. Michigan showdown drew the largest crowd in

American football history with the official attendance being 115,109. The second largest?

The Notre Dame vs. Michigan game from two years ago which drew 114,804 fans.

These rivalries change everything. Unfortunately, Saturday marked the last time the two teams will play in Ann Arbor, Mich. for the foreseeable future. The rivalry has been around since 1887.

Rivalries without a doubt matter and cause the greatest thing about college football: upsets.

Saturday, unranked Miami defeated the 12th ranked Florida Gators 21-16. Florida came into the game as the favorite despite being on the road, but that didn’t matter. Unfortunately, this was the last time they will square off as the two teams have failed to reach an agreement on continuing the rivalry.

Last year, the Backyard Brawl, a game between bitter rivals West Virginia and Pittsburgh, came to an end. The two teams have faced each other a total of 104 times with the last 50 being annual matchups. Their 100th

matchup exemplified why when it comes to rivalries, records and rankings don’t matter.

The 2007 Backyard Brawl was simple. If the undefeated second-ranked Mountaineers beat the 4-7 and 28.5 point underdog Pittsburgh Panthers, WVU would play in the BCS Championship game. But the Panthers used their smash-mouth running game, led by then freshman standout and current Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Lesean McCoy, to upset the Mountaineers 13-9.

On that cold December night, the records had zero importance. Pitt rose to the occasion and proved that the rivalry itself was of the utmost importance. The only thing that mattered was the hatred the teams shared for one another.

The economics of college football has completely taken over the integrity of maintaining its rich tradition.

There used to be a time when tradition was the focal point of the game. When a coach visited a recruit, it was the main selling point. Today, coaches sell re-

cruits on how many games will be on TV, how they will help propel the recruit to the NFL or even having the best looking uniforms (i.e. Oregon).

Tradition hasn’t been completely erased from today’s game. There are still rivalries that are withstanding the test of time and a new era like Ohio State vs. Michigan, but as recent evidence shows, it is only a matter of time.

At this point, there is nothing that will change what money has done to college football.

TV ratings, their outcomes and lucrative contracts are now the name of the game. The greed of college administrators and coaches is to blame.

Although universities and conferences are reaping huge benefits from conference realignment, they are ruining college football. To the detriment of rivalries, tradition and college football as a whole, it’s pretty clear that college football is a business that is only worried about one thing: money.

Sports

Page 8, Student Printz

FOOTBALL

Monday, September 9, 2013

Golden Eagles lose to Nebraska Keatyn Ladner Printz Reporter Once Allan Bridgford released his second pass attempt of the game, it was over.

Nebraska dominated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in every aspect of the game en route to a 56-13 victory.

USM got off to a rocky start with two pick six’s in the first quarter. Nebraska’s cornerback, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, returned the first interception for a 43yard touchdown.

For the Golden Eagles, all six points in the first half were put on the board by kicker, Corey

Acosta, a 32-yard field goal followed by a 45-yard field goal.

USM trailed at halftime 35-6.

In the third quarter, Bridgford found Rickey Bradley for a 41-yard touchdown. Bradley’s touchdown was the first and only one for USM. Bridgford completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 222 yards against the Huskers, but threw three interceptions.

Nick Mullens came in the game late for Bridgford, but missed on both of his pass attempts, which included an interception. To USM’s dismay, they just couldn’t overcome the four interceptions or establish a running game.

The Golden Eagles had a total

of sixty-two rushing yards on twenty-seven rushing attempts for a 2.3 yards average. USM will need to drastically improve these numbers in future games to win.

USM’s defense did not play as well as they had hoped either.

Nebraska quarterback threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Ameer Abdullah totaled 114 yards on the ground and found the end zone twice.

Southern Miss will look to get back on track Saturday when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas is 2-0 and coming off a 34-14 victory over ULLafayette.

Bruce Thorson/US Presswire

Bruce Thorson/US Presswire

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles head coach Todd Monken talks to an official during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium.

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles quarterback Allan Bridgford (16) warms up prior to the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium.

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